I know Lee's brilliant ideas about improving shop fronts on Sydenham high street are essential to any long-term sustainable regeneration of the area but I also strongly believe that more plants and trees are really, really important too.
I don't know if any of you have noticed that most of the small bits of greenery that exist along Sydenham Road are actually on private land. There are just two or three very neglected planters along the whole length of the high street from Kirkdale to Kent House. I don't think Bromley council would be able to get away with this on Beckenham high street. Even its public toilets have flower beds to be envied!!!
If any of you out there feel passionate about greening Sydenham high street as part of the regeneration project you might find the following interesting:
Council officers have said underground services might mean a limited number of trees can be planted as part of the Tfl Sydenham Road improvement project. I have argued that other high streets, such as Lordship Lane, have managed to plant many trees and must face the same problems as Sydenham, so why can't we?
Therefore, I took it upon myself to contact Dulwich Community Council to ask how they have achieved it. Cllr Beverley Olami gave me the details of Southwark's Arborcultural Officer and the day after (which I was very impressed with) a colleague of his from their Public Realm department called me.
He was very enthusiastic and said, basically, that "Where there is a will there is a way!" He said it can be expensive but there are funding streams which can be accessed.
Southwark has been using a specialist (non-profit company) called Street Tree (www.streettree.org) to achieve what they describe as the boulevard affect in some of their borough high streets. Apparently work they did on Walworth road is award-winning, as is the Cut in Watrerloo.
They have used root guards and been careful about tree selection in order to plant as many trees as possible, which are also drought-proof and establish quickly.
They have planted London Plane trees on Lordship Lane . He also recommended the Honey Locust (shade master variety - which gives dappled shade and does not have thorns) but there are others recommended on the Street Tree website. I think ones that do not grow too tall (maybe five-ten metres?) have the most impact because they can be appreciated by pedestrians close-up. While on holiday in France I noticed many groups of bushey, lollipop-shaped trees about this height and they looked stunning. Also a mixture of Deciduous and evergreen, otherwise for half the year it will still look bleak.
Streettree's website says landscaping inner cities:
* Calms traffic
* Offers pollution control
* Has aesthetic benefits - studies have shown that tree-lined streets have positive psychological benefits, including lower rates of mental illness, violence and crime (which I have long believed myself - leafy areas = 'nice, safe areas')
* Economic benefits - attract businesses and can add up to 15% on the value of property in a street.
I sent this information to Cllr Best and Ian Plowright (one of the officers involved in the Tfl project). Cllr Best replied saying she would talk to officers but that was it.
I really hoped the information might have been able to help those involved make a more substantial effort to 'green' Sydenham road because I think this is a great opportunity to really turn around its fortunes and make it a more pleasant place for everyone to live!
How to green Sydenham Road
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Chris Best
- Posts: 439
- Joined: 6 May 2005 11:37
- Location: Sydenham
Hello Poppy
Yes I did talk officers and we now have a short video clip https://www.youtube.com/user/LewishamCou ... OR7XMLYtDo stating that we will be planting a number of trees and greening the high street.
Through the Sydenham Assembly we have provided funds so that Envirowork have the contract to stock and maintain the existing planters and this has now started. We have also planted up the borders in Girton Road car park to make this more attractive.
If residents are interested in underplanting the existing street trees with flowers please let me know - the real commitment is for residents to look after the plants and water when necessary.
Chris
Yes I did talk officers and we now have a short video clip https://www.youtube.com/user/LewishamCou ... OR7XMLYtDo stating that we will be planting a number of trees and greening the high street.
Through the Sydenham Assembly we have provided funds so that Envirowork have the contract to stock and maintain the existing planters and this has now started. We have also planted up the borders in Girton Road car park to make this more attractive.
If residents are interested in underplanting the existing street trees with flowers please let me know - the real commitment is for residents to look after the plants and water when necessary.
Chris
Hello Chris
Thanks very much for replying.
Can you tell me how many trees Lewisham intends to plant, what kind and where?
Did you notice in my post about the importance of deciduous and evergreen?
I drove through Walworth Road this winter (by the way, you might want to change the voiceover on the YouTube video, he calls it Wandsworth throughout!) and there was no greenery because all the trees were deciduous so the environment still looked very harsh!
Southwark have planted some evergreen trees near the Dulwich Library/Barry Road junction. Have you seen them? Good idea!!!
Are you using Streettree or an organisation like it for advice and help?
Regarding the planters. Just one plea: can they please have shrubs with impact and year-round interest! The one outside the Post Office (from memory) has a group of very sorry-looking, low-growing shurbs in it, and they all the same!
Poppy
Thanks very much for replying.
Can you tell me how many trees Lewisham intends to plant, what kind and where?
Did you notice in my post about the importance of deciduous and evergreen?
I drove through Walworth Road this winter (by the way, you might want to change the voiceover on the YouTube video, he calls it Wandsworth throughout!) and there was no greenery because all the trees were deciduous so the environment still looked very harsh!
Southwark have planted some evergreen trees near the Dulwich Library/Barry Road junction. Have you seen them? Good idea!!!
Are you using Streettree or an organisation like it for advice and help?
Regarding the planters. Just one plea: can they please have shrubs with impact and year-round interest! The one outside the Post Office (from memory) has a group of very sorry-looking, low-growing shurbs in it, and they all the same!
Poppy
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Wispy Wonder
- Posts: 137
- Joined: 11 Jan 2006 22:13
- Location: Sydenham
Bromley council have been planting trees quite widely this year, even in residential street, which is fantastic. Sadly, I sincerely doubt we'll see the same in Lewisham where the council no doubt take the view that the purchase, planting, maintenance and future liability costs outweigh any benefits.
There are plenty of smaller tree species with modest root systems, just don't expect to see them in Lewisham.
There are plenty of smaller tree species with modest root systems, just don't expect to see them in Lewisham.
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Chris Best
- Posts: 439
- Joined: 6 May 2005 11:37
- Location: Sydenham
On the high street we intend to plant up Cobbs Corner, around the pocket parks and put in suitable trees at points shown on the consultation map.
In terms of Lewisham's trees we are using Envirowork to plant all our new trees and carry out the maintenance and watering. Over 430 new trees have been planted in the last year. Most of the funding for these came via a grant from the GLA (£98k) and some smaller sums via the Local Assemblies.
Green Scene (the Council's internal team) have an annual budget for new trees of approx £15k which is used to replace felled trees, where it is possible, and plant new trees at the request of individual residents.
We are also working on community gardens - please take a look at the front of Mayow Park which has a number of shrubs and there is the Home Park Community Garden day this Saturday.
Residents can also support the new trees by making sure they keep an eye in hot weather for extra water and in underplanting with flowers. The Council is keen to work with residents to develop green spaces and provide an attractive environment for everyone to enjoy.
In terms of Lewisham's trees we are using Envirowork to plant all our new trees and carry out the maintenance and watering. Over 430 new trees have been planted in the last year. Most of the funding for these came via a grant from the GLA (£98k) and some smaller sums via the Local Assemblies.
Green Scene (the Council's internal team) have an annual budget for new trees of approx £15k which is used to replace felled trees, where it is possible, and plant new trees at the request of individual residents.
We are also working on community gardens - please take a look at the front of Mayow Park which has a number of shrubs and there is the Home Park Community Garden day this Saturday.
Residents can also support the new trees by making sure they keep an eye in hot weather for extra water and in underplanting with flowers. The Council is keen to work with residents to develop green spaces and provide an attractive environment for everyone to enjoy.
Thanks for Cllr Best for mentioning the Home Park Community Garden.
I hope she wont mind me mentioning this link for more info. It Launches this Saturday:
LINK TO INFO ABOUT HOME PARK COMMUNITY GARDEN
I hope she wont mind me mentioning this link for more info. It Launches this Saturday:
LINK TO INFO ABOUT HOME PARK COMMUNITY GARDEN
Great post Poppy!
Councillor Best, ignoring the pocket squares, are you able to supply some exact numbers of how many new trees are going to be planted please? Will there be extra trees planted down towards Kent House Lane section? What are the actual trees being planted?
The high street work is an amazing opportunity to plant as many trees on the high street as possible, it will have a huge positive effect on the area, I imagine we wont get another opportunity like this for 10 or 20 years?
Councillor Best, ignoring the pocket squares, are you able to supply some exact numbers of how many new trees are going to be planted please? Will there be extra trees planted down towards Kent House Lane section? What are the actual trees being planted?
The high street work is an amazing opportunity to plant as many trees on the high street as possible, it will have a huge positive effect on the area, I imagine we wont get another opportunity like this for 10 or 20 years?
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Raven Drone
- Posts: 31
- Joined: 10 Jul 2008 20:35
- Location: se26
Sorry if this sounds a bit harsh Cllr Best but it surprises me that some planters in a car park that only a few people see would be given priority over planters along a high street that hundreds of people walk past or drive past every day.
The one at the top of Trewsbury Road is just full of a bunch of old rose bushes, from memory.
Also, I echo RavenDrone, can we have exact numbers, locations and species please? And can you confirm whether your officers have even considered the information I sent regarding the award-winning planting programme in Southwark, it sounds as if only the few sites identified a few months ago still apply?
Southwark Council must face similar financial pressures to Lewisham but it seems to be making a bigger commitment to improving its environment. Or am I wrong? Or is someone holding back because they think Sydenham residents will abuse such efforts.
Have you noticed, that in the many months since the boards outside the Greyhound were decorated by a local artist it seems that only recently a tiny bit of graffiti has started to appear, which seems to prove my point that when an effort is made the vast majority tend to respect it. Throw an old mattress outside an uninhabited house, lots of people join in!
The one at the top of Trewsbury Road is just full of a bunch of old rose bushes, from memory.
Also, I echo RavenDrone, can we have exact numbers, locations and species please? And can you confirm whether your officers have even considered the information I sent regarding the award-winning planting programme in Southwark, it sounds as if only the few sites identified a few months ago still apply?
Southwark Council must face similar financial pressures to Lewisham but it seems to be making a bigger commitment to improving its environment. Or am I wrong? Or is someone holding back because they think Sydenham residents will abuse such efforts.
Have you noticed, that in the many months since the boards outside the Greyhound were decorated by a local artist it seems that only recently a tiny bit of graffiti has started to appear, which seems to prove my point that when an effort is made the vast majority tend to respect it. Throw an old mattress outside an uninhabited house, lots of people join in!
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Wispy Wonder
- Posts: 137
- Joined: 11 Jan 2006 22:13
- Location: Sydenham
It seems ironic that given this tread is about greening-up the High St, the best the council can do is to cite planting anywhere but. If other local councils can plant trees in their High st's, why can't/won't Lewisham? A few shrubs in the car park won't make Sydenham a nicer place to live, a tree-lined High st certainly could.
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Chris Best
- Posts: 439
- Joined: 6 May 2005 11:37
- Location: Sydenham
Yes we are going to plant trees in the high street and you can see from the consultation map http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/Environment/ ... Street.htm where the trees are planned and the artists impression of how the high street will look from Cobbs Corner to Mayow Road. I am expecting works to start later in the year and will ensure officers provide a full update for the next Assembly meeting on Saturday 12 June. I have asked officers if they have any more information on the trees at this stage of the project.
The Assembly voted to restock the existing planters plus other spaces that could give a green look. Girton Road car park is one of the few free car parks in Lewisham and many people use this when shopping at Somerfield/Lidl. The borders needed restocking and this has now been carried out.
We will be reviewing the Locality and Mayor's Fund later in the year and if more trees are wanted from Mayow Road to Sydenham Library then we could discuss how many and how much. This could then be voted on at a future Assembly meeting.
The Assembly voted to restock the existing planters plus other spaces that could give a green look. Girton Road car park is one of the few free car parks in Lewisham and many people use this when shopping at Somerfield/Lidl. The borders needed restocking and this has now been carried out.
We will be reviewing the Locality and Mayor's Fund later in the year and if more trees are wanted from Mayow Road to Sydenham Library then we could discuss how many and how much. This could then be voted on at a future Assembly meeting.
Hello all, been a lurker for years but have decided to speak too 
I would be happy to look after any trees planted at cobbs and under plant too.
Having planted a lavatera (removed by Glendale) and over 100 daffodils in the green at the bottom of mendip close only to watch Glendale hoe all the leaves off just as they were finishing flowering
I am concerned that any planting done will just be removed through.
I will be contacting the council tomorrow to ask for A....the whole of my road or B....at least a tree outside my home, having asked many many times over the years, only to be told no money for it.
I have offered to pay for, buy and plant the said tree but still told no.
Any road with trees looks so much nicer, we can't have too many in the area.
Thank you Poppy for starting this thread.
I would be happy to look after any trees planted at cobbs and under plant too.
Having planted a lavatera (removed by Glendale) and over 100 daffodils in the green at the bottom of mendip close only to watch Glendale hoe all the leaves off just as they were finishing flowering
I am concerned that any planting done will just be removed through.I will be contacting the council tomorrow to ask for A....the whole of my road or B....at least a tree outside my home, having asked many many times over the years, only to be told no money for it.
I have offered to pay for, buy and plant the said tree but still told no.
Any road with trees looks so much nicer, we can't have too many in the area.
Thank you Poppy for starting this thread.